Medical/Dental/Vet Professionals workers comp rate in Louisiana
The filed workers comp rate for class code 8835 (Medical/Dental/Vet Professionals) in Louisiana is $0.900 per $100 of payroll. On $500,000 of payroll, that is roughly $4,500 in base premium.
Workers comp rules in Louisiana affecting code 8835
Louisiana uses NCCI for workers comp rate setting. Coverage is mandatory once an employer crosses the threshold of Employers with one or more employees are required to carry workers' compensation insurance..
Subcontractor coverage in Louisiana
A principal contractor can be held liable for the workers' compensation benefits of an uninsured subcontractor's employees if the work performed is part of the principal's trade, business, or occupation.
Owner-exclusion rules for code 8835
Louisianaallows business owners to file an election excluding themselves from workers comp coverage. Excluding $80,000 of owner payroll at $0.900 saves $720 per year.
1099 contractor handling
Classification of 1099 contractors is based on a multi-factor test, primarily focusing on the right to control the details of the work performed.
Penalty for failing to carry coverage
Penalties for non-compliance include fines up to $10,000, imprisonment up to one year, and personal liability for all benefits and medical expenses.
Audit window after policy expiration
After your policy expires, Louisiana's rating authority allows within 90-120 days of policy expiration for a premium audit. Code 8835 payroll discovered late can result in additional premium owed. Maintain segregated payroll records for at least the audit window plus one year.
Ways to lower your premium for code 8835 in Louisiana
Most employers paying for code 8835 could reduce annual premium by 10-30% by applying one or more of the levers below. Each is grounded in Louisiana-specific rules where applicable.
- Experience modifier (EMR): A 0.85 EMR (well-managed) cuts $0.900 to $0.765 per $100, saving roughly $675 on a $500K payroll. A 1.25 EMR (loss-burdened) inflates it to $1.13. Build a lower EMR by reducing claim frequency (every claim hurts the modifier even if dollar cost is small).
- Schedule credits: Louisiana permits up to 25% schedule credit at underwriter discretion. At $0.900, a 7% credit lowers your effective rate to $0.837 per $100.
- Deductible plans: Per-claim or aggregate deductibles ($1K-$10K typical) cut premium 5-15%. Best fit when historical claim count is low.
- Reclassify payroll: Code 8835 may be applied too broadly. If a portion of payroll is genuinely clerical and properly segregated, that portion can be reported as code 8810 (clerical) at $0.10-$0.30 per $100.
- PEO or staff leasing: A Professional Employer Organization can pool your code-8835 payroll with similar businesses in Louisiana, often securing better blended rates than your standalone EMR can achieve.
- Dividend or retro plans: Some carriers offer participating policies that return a dividend if your loss ratio stays below a target. Best for employers with predictably good loss experience.
- Wrap-up policy for projects: For larger code-8835 operations (especially construction), an OCIP or CCIP wrap can consolidate coverage at lower aggregate cost.
Common claim drivers in healthcare affecting code 8835
Rate filings for code 8835 reflect what actually drives claim cost for this occupation across NCCI's national experience and Louisiana's state-specific loss data. The largest drivers behind the $0.900 rate are typically:
- Patient-handling injuries. Lifting and transferring patients drives 35-50% of healthcare worker comp claim cost.
- Sharps and bloodborne exposure. Needlestick injuries trigger long-tail surveillance and treatment claims.
- Workplace violence. Patient and visitor aggression is rising sharply in ER, behavioral health, and long-term care.
Targeting these in your safety program produces the largest EMR improvement. Most claim-frequency reductions come from controls on the top two drivers above; severity reductions require return-to-work programs and aggressive medical management.
FAQ
What is the workers comp rate for code 8835 in Louisiana?
The filed workers comp loss cost or rate for NCCI class code 8835 in Louisiana is $0.900 per $100 of payroll.
How much would I pay on $500,000 payroll?
At $0.900 per $100, $500,000 yields a base premium of $4,500 before EMR and schedule credits. With an EMR of 0.85, effective rate is $0.765; with 1.25, it is $1.13.
Where else can I see code 8835?
UT has the cheapest filed rate ($0.470) and NJ the highest ($4.03). Louisiana sits at the 40th percentile across 20 peer states.
Can I get a schedule credit on code 8835 in Louisiana?
Louisiana permits up to 25% schedule credit. At $0.900, a 10% credit lowers effective rate to $0.810 per $100.
Can I exclude myself from code 8835 coverage in Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana allows business owners to file an election excluding themselves from workers comp coverage on their own payroll.